I bought a Korg MS2000R fot the studio a while ago, and I must say it's quite an incredible synth... just don't go trying to use it for everything! It's can do it all, no doubt about it, but sometimes you're just better off with a different synth, thought there's nothing better for basses than an MS2000R.

Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Sunday-Mar-02-2003 at 20:12

Jeff Lyon
a hobbyist user
from United States
writes:

I am very impressed! This is the only synth I've ever had much time on, so I can't compare it easily to other synths. From what I hear though, this is a very versatile synth; you can get all sorts of great basses, sweeps, and analog-style leads out of it. The sound is very warm... you can get a very sexy analog "purr" out of it

I heard complaining about the filter, and indeed it is a little weird, but apparently, this is an emulation of the MS-20's filter. The reason it doesn't sound like synth X is because it wasn't meant to!!!

There is so much about this synth that goes above and beyond what you'd expect from such a low priced box... the arpeggiator, the (very fly) mod sequencer, the virtual patch function and the 16 band vocoder, all of them are perfectly executed. (The vocoder alone would be worth the price)

The interface and controls are very intuitive. Pretty much every parameter you need to adjust has a knob, and the indicator lights make for quite the light show (especially when you're playing sequences). Very cool look.

My complaints: 1) No distortion-level control, it's either on or off, 2) Poor tempo synch, but apparently they fixed this with an OS update, 3) No reverb!!!!!

For the money this costs, (especially on Ebay :-) this is probably the most valuable synth you could own. And I wouln't know cuz I've never had another synth

Rating: 4 out of 5
posted Tuesday-Dec-31-2002 at 05:38

Glen
a part-time user
from CA
writes:

Wow!! Cool machine!! I got the keyboard version and really now i think i should have got the rack version. Who needs another keyboard....not me. This machine is very deep and very unusual. If you want to sound like every other joe, get the AN1x that everybody and their dog raves about. If you want a unique sound that just wont quit, then look no further. This IS the one!! I mean it really kicks ass hard!! I cannot believe how cool it is and what a great bargain they are. Sure, the polyphony is only 4 but thats not an issue when you are working with this machine, at least has not been for me at all. I love it a lot!!

Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Wednesday-Dec-18-2002 at 21:10

Jim
a part-time user
writes:

I have had a ms2000r for about 3-4weeks now, it's thick and warm prolly the closest VA to analog you can get. Too damn easy to program great sounds, it's diffrent to all the other VA's on the market in some areas it lacks features such as the arp is very limiting and the effects are pretty lame, also the filters are not great but they are modeled off a older korg synth so i suppose they sound how korg intended them too. It sucks that it only has four voices and is only monotimbral but there can be work arounds. But the vitual patchin is cronic you can control 4 modulation sources something no other VA has, also the mod sequencer is great but it takes along time to get it to sound the way you want it to, but when you finally crack something with the mod-seq it sounds amazing..The distortion is nice addition although you cannot adjust the amount (whats up with that) the audio in is sweet and the vocoder what a great addition it's 16band too so it's as good as it gets. The mannual could be better and i think korg cut a few corners, only if it had more voices better effects and a programmable arp, then the blue beast would rule the jungle, i still give it a 4 though cause it's great addition to any studio or good introduction synth..

Rating: 4 out of 5
posted Monday-Oct-14-2002 at 10:20

Teenwoolph
a part-time user
from USA
writes:

Just picked one up for $400 and i can't complain really. Coupled with some external FX this thing sounds great. I have other synths so the polyphony isn't really an issue. Good buy for the dosh. Very fun to program.